Related Articles

With approximately one-third of every day spent in bed, it’s easy to see why bedding is one of the most used articles in the home. Sheets, pillows and comforters take abuse from wear and laundering, but you can repair some damage and help them last longer. Few things last forever, though; if a sheet set was worn out when you inherited it 10 years ago, it might be time to invest in something new.

Seams and Elastic

An open seam is one of the simplest bedding repairs. With the wrong side of the item facing out, pin the seam together and sew it closed. Articles that you can’t turn inside out need a hand-sewn, blind or invisible stitch. This is the same stitch that closes pillows and toys after stuffing. Knits require a special stitch that lets the fabric stretch. On a traditional sewing machine, a zigzag stitch is the best choice. Serged zigzag seams are better, as they allow for stretch and finish the raw edge, which helps prevent fraying. If the fabric has torn along the seam, sewing a new seam makes the article smaller. Fitted sheet elastic that’s lost its stretch is another simple repair. Clip the threads to remove old elastic and sew on new using a zigzag stitch.

Stains and Bleach Spots

Stained or bleached bedding isn’t necessarily ruined. Adding decorative embellishments or dyeing might save it. Lace or satin borders, appliques and embroidery are a few ways to disguise a stain. Bleach spots are always permanent, but dyeing might be an option. Pure cotton, not cotton blended with synthetics, accepts most fabric dye. If the fiber is synthetic, such as nylon, you’ll need dye manufactured for the fiber; common fabric dyes won’t bond. Another way to dye nylon is with food coloring and vinegar or unsweetened powdered fruit drink mix. The food coloring is the dye, and the vinegar or citric acid makes it bond permanently with nylon. For large bleach spots or stains, tie dyeing in different colors makes the most of a bad situation.

Holes and Threadbare Areas

Holes can occur from clear damage or from weakened fabric being overstressed. Threadbare fabric means the material has thinned from wear and stress. A darning technique can extend the fabric’s lifespan. Darning is an obvious repair, so it may be unsuitable for visible areas. Darning by hand is essentially weaving new material into the existing weave using a needle and thread or thin-gauge yarn. Working back and forth in two directions, as if weaving a basket, the thread or yarn becomes new fabric that supports thinned material or fills in the gap of a hole. Some sewing machines have a darning setting which results in a neater, yet still obvious, repair.

Bunched Stuffing

When pillows and comforters are laundered, stuffing and batting can bunch up. Depending on the article, repairing it might require separating the lumps or replacing some or all of the stuffing. The simplest repair for pillows is stuffing replacement. Open a long seam with a seam ripper to pull out the old fluff and pack in new. Use a long pencil or knitting needle to push stuffing into the corners, then sew the seam closed again. Stitching or quilting throughout a comforter is meant to keep batting in place, so replacing all of it isn’t possible without disassembling the comforter. In areas where you can’t open a seam, such as the center of a comforter, grasping the lumps and separating them with your fingers through the material might be the only option. Along the sides, you can open seams and replace batting as you would with a pillow.

About the Author

Carole Oldroyd, a writer based in East Tennessee, has authored numerous DIY home improvement, Human Resources, HR and Law articles. In addition to holding a degree in paralegal studies, she has more than 10 years of experience renovating newer homes and restoring historic property.